Created 8-Jan-22
Modified 8-Mar-24
Mexborough & Swinton bought only single-deck trolleybuses, their final purchases being Sunbeam F4s with Brush B32C bodies. New in 1948 were 25-36 (FWX 909-920) with 37-39 (JWW 375-377) being the last trolleybuses to enter service with the fleet. The trolleybus system's final service journeys were on 26th March 1961 and with the exception of 34 (FWX 918), withdrawn in 1959, all these vehicles remained in use until the end. They had been re-seated as B35C in the mid-fifties.
29 (FWX 913) was chosen to be the ceremonial last trolleybus and was the subject of a most unusual conversion, with the rear half of the body being cut down to waistrail leaving it open. It led the final procession on 27th March 1961 in this form, carrying a brass band playing in the rear section.
In April 1961 Bradford bought 27-33 and 35-39. Of these 31-33, 35 and 36 (FXW 915-917, 919 and 920) were only used for spares and are covered in a separate gallery. The remainder were refurbished and fitted with new East Lancs bodies similar to those on 831-835. However, as they were single-deck chassis with a longer wheelbase the bodies on these Sunbeams were 28'-6" long and 8'-0" wide, but still H37/29F. The seven so treated became 841-847 (FXX 911-914, JWW 375-377). 841 was a slightly premature withdrawal at the end of 1971 and 847 had a motor failure which unfortunately meant that the last one of all was withdrawn in February 1972, however the remainder were active until the end. 843 and 845 were prominent in the last weekend. It is of note that 847 (JWW 377) was the last trolleybus to enter service for both fleets.
However, two of the batch made very historic journeys on that weekend. 843 (which had been the open-top conversion at Mexborough) had the distinction of being the last service trolleybus to return to Duckworth Lane on 24th March 1972 whilst 844 became the ceremonial last trolleybus, running on 26th March 1972.
© David Beilby
